U.S. patent application number 16/029285 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-15 for wavelength-variable laser.
This patent application is currently assigned to FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Masaki FUNABASHI, Yuichiro IRIE, Satoshi IRINO, Hirokazu ITOH, Taketsugu SAWAMURA, Nobumasa TANAKA, Junji YOSHIDA.
Application Number | 20180331503 16/029285 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64097478 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180331503 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOSHIDA; Junji ; et
al. |
November 15, 2018 |
WAVELENGTH-VARIABLE LASER
Abstract
A wavelength-variable laser outputting a predetermined
wavelength of laser light includes: a quantum well active layer
positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding
layer in thickness direction; a separate confinement
heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active
layer and the n-type cladding layer; and an
electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the
separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding
layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having
band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer
constituting the quantum well active layer.
Inventors: |
YOSHIDA; Junji; (Tokyo,
JP) ; ITOH; Hirokazu; (Tokyo, JP) ; IRINO;
Satoshi; (Tokyo, JP) ; IRIE; Yuichiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; SAWAMURA; Taketsugu; (Tokyo, JP) ;
FUNABASHI; Masaki; (Tokyo, JP) ; TANAKA;
Nobumasa; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
64097478 |
Appl. No.: |
16/029285 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15454444 |
Mar 9, 2017 |
10020638 |
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16029285 |
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14795387 |
Jul 9, 2015 |
9601905 |
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15454444 |
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14507374 |
Oct 6, 2014 |
9083150 |
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14795387 |
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PCT/JP2013/060391 |
Apr 4, 2013 |
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14507374 |
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61621013 |
Apr 6, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01S 3/302 20130101;
H01S 5/2275 20130101; H01S 3/13013 20190801; H01S 3/09415 20130101;
H01S 5/146 20130101; H01S 5/0014 20130101; H01S 5/02415 20130101;
H01S 5/141 20130101; H01S 5/3213 20130101; H01S 5/0064 20130101;
H01S 2301/03 20130101; H01S 5/02438 20130101; H01S 3/094003
20130101; H01S 5/02288 20130101; H01S 5/3434 20130101; H01S 5/1064
20130101; H01S 5/02284 20130101; H01S 5/2206 20130101; H01S 5/3216
20130101; H01S 3/06754 20130101; H01S 5/227 20130101; H01S 2301/166
20130101; H01S 5/024 20130101; H01S 5/1039 20130101; H01S 3/094096
20130101; H01S 5/2077 20130101; H01S 5/2205 20130101; H01S 5/3054
20130101; H01S 3/0675 20130101; H01S 5/3406 20130101; H01S 3/04
20130101; H01S 5/34306 20130101; H01S 5/0287 20130101; H01S 5/34
20130101; B82Y 20/00 20130101; H01S 5/2222 20130101; H01S 5/2018
20130101; H01S 5/305 20130101; H01S 3/094011 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01S 5/32 20060101
H01S005/32; H01S 5/343 20060101 H01S005/343; H01S 5/20 20060101
H01S005/20; H01S 3/067 20060101 H01S003/067; H01S 5/10 20060101
H01S005/10; B82Y 20/00 20060101 B82Y020/00; H01S 5/34 20060101
H01S005/34 |
Claims
1. A wavelength-variable laser outputting a predetermined
wavelength of laser light comprising: a quantum well active layer
positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding
layer in thickness direction; a separate confinement
heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active
layer and then-type cladding layer; and an
electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the
separate confinement heterostructure layer and then-type cladding
layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having
band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer
constituting the quantum well active layer, wherein the
wavelength-variable laser has a function to select a specific
wavelength by returning a specific wavelength in the
wavelength-variable laser.
2. The wavelength-variable laser according to claim 1, further
comprising a current constriction structure positioned at both
sides of width direction of the quantum well active layer, wherein
the electric-field-distribution-control layer is formed to overlap
with the current constriction structure in the thickness
direction.
3. The wavelength-variable laser according to claim 1, wherein the
semiconductor layers constituting the
electric-field-distribution-control layer are constituted by a
first semiconductor layer made from semiconductor material having
band gap energy that is the same as the n-type cladding layer and a
second semiconductor layer made from semiconductor material having
band gap energy greater than the barrier layer constituting the
quantum well active layer.
4. The wavelength-variable laser according to claim 3, wherein the
first semiconductor layer is made from InP, and the second
semiconductor layer is made from III-V group compound semiconductor
including an As atom and a P atom as composition.
5. The wavelength-variable laser according to claim 4, wherein the
second semiconductor layer is made from GaInAsP, and a sum of layer
thicknesses of the second semiconductor layers constituting the
electric-field-distribution-control layer is equal to or smaller
than 1 .mu.m.
6. The wavelength-variable laser according to claim 5, wherein band
gap composition wavelength of GaInAsP constituting the second
semiconductor layer is equal to or greater than 1 .mu.m.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/454,444, filed Mar. 9, 2017, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/795,387, filed
Jul. 9, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,601,905, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/507,374, filed Oct. 6, 2014,
now U.S. Pat. No. 9,083,150, which is a continuation of
International Application No. PCT/JP2013/060391 filed on Apr. 4,
2013, which claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/621,013 filed on Apr. 6, 2012, the entire
contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a wavelength-variable
laser, a semiconductor laser module, and an optical fiber
amplifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] In recent years, increase in data traffic due to rapid
spread of Internet or rapid increase in connections among
intra-company LANs, etc. is a problem. Then, in order to solve that
problem, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system has
achieved a remarkable development and become popular. In the WDM
system, by multiplexing a plurality of signals onto lights each
having different wavelength, large capacity transmission which is
equal to or greater than 100 times relative to conventional cases
is realized by using an optical fiber. In particular, in the WDM
system, optical amplification by an optical fiber amplifier such as
an erbium-doped optical fiber amplifier (hereinafter, EDFA) or a
Raman amplifier etc. is indispensable, this optical amplification
enables wide-band and long-haul transmission. Herein an EDFA is an
optical fiber amplifier to which the principles applied that, when
inputting pumping light having a wavelength of 1480 nm or a
wavelength of 980 nm etc. from a pumping laser into a special
optical fiber (hereinafter EDF) which is doped with erbium which is
rare earth, 1550 nm band wavelength of light which is
simultaneously-inputted transmission signal light is amplified in
the above-described EDF.
[0004] Also, as a form of using EDFA, a so-called remote-pump-type
is proposed, in which, when amplifying signal light in the middle
of a transmission optical fiber laid on seabed, a pumping laser is
disposed on land and pumping light outputted from the pumping laser
is made input into the EDF through the transmission optical fiber.
In the remote-pump-type EDFA, the pumping laser can be maintained
or replaced easily by disposing the pumping laser on land.
[0005] On the other hand, a Raman amplifier is an optical fiber
amplifier of a distributed type which, unlike an EDFA, does not
need a special optical fiber such as an erbium-doped optical fiber
but uses an optical fiber of an ordinary transmission path as a
gain medium. Since the Raman amplifier has flat gain in wide-band,
as compared with a WDM transmission system based on a conventional
EDFA, the Raman amplifier has a feature capable of realizing
wide-band transmission band. It should be noted that, in the Raman
amplifier, since its amplification gain is lower than that of the
EDFA, its pumping laser is required to have high output
characteristics equal to or greater than that of the EDFA.
[0006] Therefore, in order to realize improvement in stability of
the WDM system or reduction of the number of repeating, the pumping
laser is required to have stable and high optical output
capability. As the pumping laser, semiconductor laser devices
having various structures such as a buried hetero (BH) structure
etc. are used, and currently, for the above-described reason,
development for especially a high power output semiconductor laser
device is ongoing actively (see Jan P. van der Ziel, et. al.,
"InGaAsP (.lamda.=1.3 .mu.m) Stripe Buried Heterostructure Lasers
Grown by MOCVD," IEEE JORNAL OF QUANTUM ELECTRONICS VOL. 27, NO.
11, pp. 2378-2385, 1991, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2000-174394, and Japanese Patent No. 3525257, which are referred as
a Non-Patent document 1, Patent document and Patent document 2,
respectively).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to at least
partially solve the problems in the conventional technology.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
wavelength-variable laser outputting a predetermined wavelength of
laser light includes: a quantum well active layer positioned
between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer in
thickness direction; a separate confinement heterostructure layer
positioned between the quantum well active layer and the n-type
cladding layer; and an electric-field-distribution-control layer
positioned between the separate confinement heterostructure layer
and the n-type cladding layer and configured by at least two
semiconductor layers having band gap energy greater than band gap
energy of a barrier layer constituting the quantum well active
layer.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a semiconductor laser module includes: a wavelength-variable laser
which is a semiconductor laser element outputting a predetermined
wavelength of laser light which includes: a quantum well active
layer positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type
cladding layer in thickness direction; a separate confinement
heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active
layer and the n-type cladding layer; and an
electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the
separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding
layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having
band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer
constituting the quantum well active layer. The semiconductor laser
module includes: a temperature-control module controlling
temperature of the semiconductor laser element; an optical fiber
guiding the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser
element to outside; and an optical-coupling lens system coupling
the semiconductor laser element and the optical fiber
optically.
[0010] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, an optical fiber amplifier includes: a semiconductor
laser module which includes a wavelength-variable laser which is a
semiconductor laser element outputting a predetermined wavelength
of laser light which includes: a quantum well active layer
positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding
layer in thickness direction; a separate confinement
heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active
layer and the n-type cladding layer; and an
electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the
separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding
layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having
band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer
constituting the quantum well active layer. The semiconductor laser
module includes: a temperature-control module controlling
temperature of the semiconductor laser element; an optical fiber
guiding the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser
element to outside; and an optical-coupling lens system coupling
the semiconductor laser element and the optical fiber optically.
The optical fiber amplifier includes: an amplification optical
fiber including amplification medium; and an optical coupler
multiplexing inputted signal light and the laser light outputted
from the semiconductor laser module and making the multiplexed
light input into the amplification optical fiber.
[0011] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, an optical fiber amplifier includes: a semiconductor
laser module which includes a wavelength-variable laser which is a
semiconductor laser element outputting a predetermined wavelength
of laser light which includes: a quantum well active layer
positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding
layer in thickness direction; a separate confinement
heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active
layer and the n-type cladding layer; and an
electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the
separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding
layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having
band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer
constituting the quantum well active layer. The semiconductor laser
module includes: a temperature-control module controlling
temperature of the semiconductor laser element; an optical fiber
guiding the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser
element to outside; and an optical-coupling lens system coupling
the semiconductor laser element and the optical fiber optically.
The optical fiber amplifier includes: an optical fiber transmitting
signal light; and an optical coupler making the laser light
outputted from the semiconductor laser module input into the
optical fiber. In the optical fiber amplifier, an optical
amplification is performed by Raman amplification.
[0012] The above and other objects, features, advantages and
technical and industrial significance of this invention will be
better understood by reading the following detailed description of
presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross section, which is in parallel with an
outputting surface, of a semiconductor laser element according to
an embodiment 1;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross section, which is in the longitudinal
direction of the semiconductor laser element according to the
embodiment 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a band diagram of the
semiconductor laser element according to the embodiment 1.
[0016] FIG. 4A is a drawing showing a stripe shape in the waveguide
direction of light in the semiconductor laser element according to
the embodiment 1;
[0017] FIG. 4B is a drawing showing a stripe shape in the waveguide
direction of light in a comparison element;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing current-optical output
characteristics of the semiconductor laser element according to the
embodiment 1 and the comparison element;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing dependences of electric input
power on optical output of the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiment 1 and the comparison element;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a relationship between an active
layer width and a rate of occurrence of IL kink of each of the
semiconductor laser elements according to embodiments 1, 2-1, and
2-2;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing dependence of threshold current
on the active layer width of each of the semiconductor laser
elements according to the embodiments 1, 2-1, and 2-2 and the
comparison element;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing dependence of optical output
(when driving at 1.8 A) on the active layer width of each of the
semiconductor laser elements according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2 and the comparison element;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing dependence of driving voltage
(when driving at 1.8 A) on the active layer width of each of the
semiconductor laser elements according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2 and the comparison element;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing dependence of differential
resistance (when driving at 1.8 A) on the active layer width of
each of the semiconductor laser elements according to the
embodiments 1, 2-1, and 2-2 and the comparison element;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a side cross section showing the structure of a
semiconductor laser module according to an embodiment 3;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a view showing a relationship between optical
output at an end of a fiber and driving current of a semiconductor
laser module using the element according to the embodiment 1 or the
comparison element;
[0027] FIG. 14 is a view showing a relationship between optical
output at the end of the fiber and power consumption of the
semiconductor laser module using the element according to the
embodiment 1 or the comparison element.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a view showing a relationship between module
power consumption and thermistor temperature of the semiconductor
laser module using the element according to the embodiment 1 or the
comparison element at a time of 500 mW optical output from an end
of the fiber;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an
optical fiber amplifier according to an embodiment 4;
[0030] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a modification example 1
of the optical fiber amplifier according to the embodiment 4;
[0031] FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
modification example 2 of the optical fiber amplifier according to
the embodiment 4, which adopts forward pumping method;
[0032] FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a modification example 3
of the optical fiber amplifier according to the embodiment 4;
[0033] FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
modification example 4 of the optical fiber amplifier according to
the embodiment 4, which adopts bi-directional pumping method;
[0034] FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a modification example 5
of the optical fiber amplifier according to the embodiment 4;
and
[0035] FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration
of a WDM communication system using the optical fiber amplifier
according to the embodiment 4 or a modification example
thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of a wavelength-variable laser, a
semiconductor laser module, and an optical fiber amplifier
according to the present invention will be explained in detail with
reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present
invention is not limited by these embodiments. Also, in each
drawing, if deemed appropriate, identical or equivalent elements
are given same reference numerals. In addition, it should be noted
that the drawings are schematic depictions, and may not represent
the actual relation of dimension of each element. Furthermore,
different drawings may include portions using different scales and
dimensional relations.
[0037] The following problem occurs along with improvement of
enhancing power output of semiconductor laser device constituting a
pumping laser. That is, along with increase in driving current and
driving voltage along with improvement of enhancing power output of
a pumping light source, increase in power consumption of a pumping
light source occurs. This raises a concern that power consumption
increases in not only in optical communication systems but also in
air-conditioning systems for cooling the systems. Large-capacity
and ultra-high-speed communication systems are required to reduce
power consumption.
[0038] In general, there are mainly the following methods of
reducing power consumption of a semiconductor laser element.
[0039] 1) a method of reducing electric resistance and thermal
resistance by extending an active layer width while maintaining a
single transverse mode
[0040] 2) a method of, by introducing an asymmetric electric field
distribution structure in which an optical electric field
distribution is distributed at an n-type cladding layer side,
reducing the electric field distributed at a p-type cladding layer
side, intending higher efficiency of external differential quantum
efficiency of an element by reducing internal loss along with
reduction in inter valence band absorption, and reducing power
consumption by reducing driving current and driving voltage.
[0041] Respective arts are disclosed by the Non-Patent document 1
regarding the above described 1), the Patent document 1 regarding
the above described 2), and the Patent document 1 regarding a
combination of the above described 1) and 2). However, these
publicly known arts have the following problems.
[0042] (Non-Patent Document 1)
[0043] It discloses that a waveguide layer is disposed under a
GaInAsP active layer, the center of an optical electric field
distribution is shifted to a substrate side, and it is operable
with a single transverse mode even at 5 .mu.m width of the active
layer. However, it is a problem that threshold current increases
with the increasing thickness of the waveguide layer and
characteristic temperature of the threshold current decreases. This
raises a problem that increase in threshold carrier density,
increase in non-radiative component due to Auger effect at high
temperature, and leakage current to the waveguide layer cause the
threshold current to increase. Also, there is a problem that, since
quantum efficiency does not depend on the thickness of the
waveguide layer, loss in the waveguide layer limits the external
differential quantum efficiency.
[0044] (Patent Document 1)
[0045] As a method of solving a problem of optical loss due to
inter valence band absorption, an art of disposing an
optical-field-controlling layer, of which refractive index is
higher than that of its n-type cladding layer and closer to
refractive index of an active layer, inside the n-type cladding
layer, shifting the distribution of light to the n-type cladding
layer side, and reducing the amount of light distributed in the
p-type cladding layer.
[0046] However, the structure of the optical-field-controlling
layer is the same as that of the active layer.
As a result, there is a problem that, when being disposed at a
position far from a separate confinement heterostructure (SCH)
layer, another optical waveguide is formed and the distribution of
light becomes dual-peak.
[0047] Therefore, although this optical-field-controlling layer
must be disposed in the vicinity of a lower-portion SCH layer, if
an optical-field-controlling layer of which refractive index is
high like this is disposed in the vicinity of the lower-portion SCH
layer, there is a problem that, equivalent refractive index of the
entire waveguide becomes high, operation with a single transverse
mode becomes difficult, and a high-order transverse mode
occurs.
[0048] Also, this high-order transverse mode can be prevented by
narrowing the width of a region including the active layer and the
SCH layer. However, if the width of the region including the active
layer and the SCH layer is narrowed in this manner, since electric
resistance and thermal resistance of an element cannot be reduced,
there is a problem that optical output saturation occurs due to
heat generated at the active layer when being highly injected.
[0049] (Patent Document 2)
[0050] It is an object to provide a semiconductor light-emitting
element which can obtain high power output with a simple
configuration and mode transfer hardly occurs even if optical
confinement coefficient for an active layer is lowered. A
semiconductor light-emitting element for this purpose is
characterized in that a multi quantum well active layer sandwiched
between an n-type cladding layer and a p-type cladding layer made
from InP is provided on an InP substrate, and that the n-type
cladding layer is made from InGaAsP.
[0051] Therefore, it is configured that increase, in light loss due
to inter valence band light absorption in the p-type cladding
layer, caused by lowering optical confinement coefficients in the
active layer and an SCH layer can be restrained, and high power
output laser light can be obtained.
[0052] Also, since refractive index difference between the active
layer and the n-type cladding layer becomes smaller than that of a
conventional art, the maximum active layer width that can restrain
high-order transverse mode can be extended; and therefore, it is
advantageous to enable the semiconductor laser element to output
higher power.
[0053] However, the n-type cladding layer is set at a thickness of
approximately 7.5 .mu.m. It is usually difficult to form that thick
n-type cladding layer by matching lattice constant of InGaAsP with
that of InP while restraining crystal defects. In particular, in
case of 0.95 .mu.m of composition wavelength, there is a problem
that ratios of Ga and As become minute with respect to In or P;
thus, difficulty in composition control increases further. In
addition, there is a problem that laminating the n-type cladding
layer takes approximately three hours; thus manufacturing time
takes too long. Also, it is a problem that a part of sediment which
adheres to an inner wall of the reactor for MOCVD then adheres to a
surface of the growth substrate as particle and causes epitaxial
surface defects. As a result, the number of
qualitatively-acceptable elements obtained from a wafer reduces;
thus, it is a problem for cost reduction.
[0054] In contrast to this, embodiments shown as follows are
effective to at least one of the above described problems.
[0055] A semiconductor laser element according to an embodiment 1
of the present invention will be explained. The semiconductor laser
element according to the present embodiment 1 is a high
power-output semiconductor laser element having buried hetero
structure and being used as a pumping laser, and includes an
electric-field-distribution-control layer between an SCH layer and
an n-InP cladding layer positioned under a quantum well active
layer. As compared with a structure having no
electric-field-distribution-control layer, this enables higher
power output operation by reducing optical electric field
distribution to the p-InP cladding layer, reducing inter valence
band absorption, and increasing external differential quantum
efficiency.
[0056] The electric-field-distribution-control layer, configured by
a semiconductor layer having band gap energy greater than band gap
energy of a barrier layer constituting the quantum well active
layer, restrains absorption of laser light emitted from the quantum
well active layer and enables high power output operation.
[0057] It is preferable that the
electric-field-distribution-control layer is configured with
composition having band gap energy between band gap energy of the
n-InP cladding layer and band gap energy of the barrier layer. This
becomes a structure in which injected carrier is difficult to be
trapped by the electric-field-distribution-control layer and
lowering of efficiency in injecting carrier into the quantum well
active layer is restrained. As a result, increase in threshold
current, lowering of efficiency, and increase in resistance due to
introduction of the electric-field-distribution-control layer can
be restrained.
[0058] Also, in case where the semiconductor laser element is of
the BH structure, by introducing the
electric-field-distribution-control layer under a current-blocking
layer which constitutes the current-confining structure and making
the current-confining structure and the
electric-field-distribution-control layer overlap in the in
thickness direction, equivalent refractive index difference between
the active layer region and the current-blocking region
(current-confining region) can be reduced.
As a result, it is possible to extend the active layer width while
maintaining the single transverse mode. By doing this way, since
electric resistance and thermal resistance can be reduced, a
high-power-outputting and low power-consuming laser device, in
which thermal saturation is restrained, can be realized.
[0059] In particular, by configuring the
electric-field-distribution-control layer with the InP layer as a
first semiconductor layer which is semiconductor material having
band gap energy identical with that of the n-type cladding layer
and a GaInAsP layer as a second semiconductor layer made from
semiconductor material of which band gap energy is greater than
that of the barrier layer constituting the quantum well active
layer, the above described equivalent refractive index difference
can be reduced than in a case of configuring the
electric-field-distribution-control layer only with the GaInAsP
layer. By doing this, a single transverse mode laser device having
wider active width can be realized, and a high power-outputting and
low power consuming laser device in which thermal saturation hardly
occurs can be realized.
[0060] Also, by reducing the sum of the layer thicknesses of the
GaInAsP layers as the second semiconductor layer constituting the
electric-field-distribution-control layer to be lower than 1 .mu.m,
an electric-field-distribution-control layer having fewer crystal
defects can be realized. Also, in order to obtain sufficient effect
as the electric-field-distribution-control layer, it is preferable
to set the sum of the layer thicknesses of the GaInAsP layers to be
equal to or greater than 100 nm. Also, by setting band gap
composition wavelength of the GaInAsP layer as the second
semiconductor layer constituting the
electric-field-distribution-control layer to be equal to or greater
than 1 .mu.m, since it is possible to control Ga composition and As
composition easily, lowering of manufacturing yield can be
restrained. Furthermore, since it is possible to set the thickness
of the electric-field-distribution-control layer at approximately 3
.mu.m, it can be grown in a shorter period, i.e., approximately 40%
of period for growing 7.5 .mu.m-thickness of an n-GaInAsP-cladding
layer as disclosed by Patent Document 2. By doing this way, it is
possible to realize a laser device which is suitable for
mass-production at lower cost.
[0061] FIG. 1 is a cross section, which is in parallel with a
output surface, of a semiconductor laser element according to an
embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a cross section in the longitudinal
direction cut along a line A-A' of FIG. 1. The semiconductor laser
element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a Fabry-Perot type laser to which
a so-called buried hetero structure is applied as a
current-confining structure.
[0062] That is, the n-InP cladding layer 2, an
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12, and a graded
index-separate confinement heterostructure multi quantum well
(GRIN-SCH-MQW) active layer 3 are layered in this order on an n-InP
substrate 1.
[0063] The electric-field-distribution-control layer in an upper
portion of the n-InP cladding layer 2 and the GRIN-SCH-MQW active
layer 3 form a mesa-stripe-like structure of which longitudinal
direction is along a light-outputting direction. A p-InP current
block layer 8 and an n-InP current block layer 9 as the
current-confining structure are layered in this order adjacent to
two sides with respect to a width direction of this mesa-stripe
structure. A p-InP cladding layer 6 and a p-GaInAsP contact layer 7
are layered on the n-InP current block layer 9. Also, a p-side
electrode 10 is formed on the p-GaInAsP contact layer 7 and an
n-side electrode 11 is formed on a back surface of the n-InP
substrate 1. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, a output-side
reflecting coating 15 is formed on a laser-light-output facet from
which laser light is outputted, and a reflection-side reflecting
coating is formed on a reflecting facet facing the radiation-side
reflecting coating 15.
[0064] Function of each layer described above will be explained
briefly as follows. Firstly, since the n-InP cladding layer 2 has
refractive index lower than effective refractive index of the
GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer 3, the n-InP cladding layer 2 has a
function of confining light generated from the GRIN-SCH-MQW active
layer 3 in a vertical (thickness) direction.
[0065] The p-InP current block layer 8 and the n-InP current block
layer 9 carry out a function of confining current injected from the
p-side electrode 10, confining light generated from the
GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer 3 in a transverse (width) direction, and
realizing a single transverse mode operation in which a high order
of lateral transverse mode is restrained. Since the p-side
electrode 10 serves as an anode in the semiconductor laser element
according to the present embodiment 1, in case where voltage is
applied between the p-side electrode 10 and the n-side electrode
11, reverse-bias is applied between the n-InP current block layer 9
and the p-InP current block layer 8. Therefore, current does not
flow from the n-InP current block layer 9 toward the p-InP current
block layer 8, and current injected from the p-side electrode 10 is
confined and flows into the GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer 3.
[0066] The reflection-side reflecting coating 14 and the
output-side reflecting coating 15 are mirrors for forming a cavity,
and their optical reflectivity are optimized according to cavity
length. Herein it should be noted that reflectivity of the
reflection-side reflecting coating 14 is set at 95% and
reflectivity of the output-side reflecting coating 15 is set at
1.5%. It should be noted that, although reflectivity of the
reflection-side reflecting coating 14 is set at 95% for laser
light, the laser light outputted from this facet is used as monitor
light for stabilizing output when operating the semiconductor laser
module using this semiconductor laser element. Therefore, although
reflectivity of the reflection-side reflecting coating 14 is
determined according to a system to which the semiconductor laser
element is applied, characteristics as the high power output laser
device is not influenced if the reflectivity is equal to or greater
than 90%.
[0067] In addition, in order to obtain higher power output, it is
desirable that cavity length L is equal to or greater than 800
.mu.m, and for example, it may be 1000 .mu.m or 1300 .mu.m.
The cavity length of the semiconductor laser element according to
the present embodiment 1 is set at L=2000 .mu.m.
[0068] The structure formed by each above-described layer is
similar to a conventional buried hetero structure and can be
replaced by known material, which is other than the above-described
material or conductive type, formed with the similar structure. The
present embodiment 1 is characterized in that the above-described
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is provided in an
upper portion of the n-InP cladding layer 2 in such a buried hetero
structure.
[0069] Hereinafter, function and effect of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 will be explained.
[0070] The electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is disposed
between a lower side SCH layer constituting the GRIN-SCH-MQW active
layer 3 and the n-InP cladding layer 2 and is formed with material
having band gap energy greater than energy of light according to
oscillation wavelength.
[0071] As compared with a structure having no
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12, the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 reduces optical
electric field distribution in the p-InP cladding layer 6, reduces
inter valence band absorption, increases external differential
quantum efficiency, and enables high power output operation.
[0072] Herein, by configuring the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 with a semiconductor
layer having band gap energy which is greater than band gap energy
of the barrier layer constituting the GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer 3,
it is possible to restrain absorption of laser light emitted from
the active layer and enable high power output operation.
[0073] Furthermore, the electric-field-distribution-control layer
12 has composition of which band gap energy is between those of the
n-InP cladding layer and the barrier layer. By doing this way, a
structure is obtained in which injected carrier is hardly trapped
in the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 and reduction
in efficiency for injecting carrier into the GRIN-SCH-MQW active
layer 3 is restrained. By doing this way, increase in threshold
current, reduction in efficiency, and increase in resistance due to
introduction of the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12
can be restrained.
[0074] Also, since equivalent refractive index difference between
the active layer region and the current-blocking region can be
reduced by introducing the electric-field-distribution-control
layer 12 in a lower layer of the p-InP current block layer 8 and
the n-InP current block layer 9 and making the p-InP current block
layer 8 and the n-InP current block layer 9 overlap with the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 in the thickness
direction, it is possible to extend the active layer width while
maintaining the single transverse mode. By doing this way, since it
is possible to reduce electric resistance and thermal resistance, a
low-power-consuming and high-power-outputting laser device of which
thermal saturation is restrained can be realized.
[0075] In particular, by forming the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 with the InP layer as
the first semiconductor layer which is semiconductor material
having band gap energy identical with that of the n-InP cladding
layer 2 and the GaInAsP layer as the second semiconductor layer
which is made of semiconductor material of which band gap energy is
greater than that of the barrier layer constituting the
GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer 3, the above described equivalent
refractive index difference can be lower than a case where the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is formed only with
the GaInAsP layer. By doing this way, a single transverse mode
laser device having wider active width can be realized and a
low-power-consuming and high-power-outputting laser device in which
thermal saturation hardly occurs can be realized.
[0076] Also, by reducing the sum of the layer thicknesses of the
GaInAsP layers as the second semiconductor layer constituting the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 to 1 .mu.m, the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 having less crystal
defects can be realized.
[0077] In particular, since it is possible to control Ga
composition and As composition easily by setting the band gap
composition wavelength of the GaInAsP layer as the second
semiconductor layer constituting the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 at equal to or greater
than 1 .mu.m, it is possible to restrain lowering of the
manufacturing yield. Furthermore, since it is possible to set the
thickness of the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 at
approximately 3 .mu.m, and therefore, since it can be grown in a
shorter period, i.e., approximately 40% of period for growing 7.5
.mu.m-thickness of an n-GaInAsP-cladding layer as disclosed by
Patent Document 2, a low-cost laser device which is suitable for
mass-production can be realized.
[0078] An example of a process manufacturing a semiconductor laser
element according to the embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be
explained as follows.
To start with, the n-InP cladding layer 2 which is made of InP
having 0.5 .mu.m of thickness and 1 to 2.times.10.sup.18/cm.sup.3
of density of impurity is formed on the n-type InP semiconductor
substrate 1 by using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition
(MOCVD) method.
[0079] After that, the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12
configured to have 2.6 .mu.m of thickness is formed.
[0080] The electric-field-distribution-control layer in this state
is configured with 4 cycles of a GaInAsP layer having 0.95 .mu.m of
composing wavelength and 20 nm of thickness, an InP layer having
180 nm of thickness, a GaInAsP layer having 1.0 .mu.m of composing
wavelength and 40 nm of thickness, and an InP layer having 160 nm
of thickness, and with 4 cycles of a GaInAsP layer having 1.1 .mu.m
of composing wavelength and 16 nm of thickness and an InP layer
having 384 nm of thickness. That is, it is a structure in which the
total thickness of the GaInAsP layer included in the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is 244 nm and accounts
for 9.4% of the total thickness (2600 nm) of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12. Also, in the present
embodiment 1, the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is
doped with 1.times.10.sup.18/cm.sup.3 of density of impurity to be
an n-type electric-field-distribution-control layer.
[0081] Herein it is desirable that the sum of the layer thicknesses
of the n-InP cladding layers are approximately 0.5 .mu.m to 3.5
.mu.m. A lower limit value is determined from a view point for a
buffer layer for restraining dislocation from a substrate, and an
upper limit value is determined from a view point for load to a
crystal-growing equipment caused by longer crystal-growing time and
manufacturing cost.
[0082] In case of configuring the first semiconductor layer with
InP as a material, it is preferable that each layer thickness of
the first semiconductor layer is 10 to 50 nm.
When the layer thickness is thinner than 10 nm, quantum size effect
becomes noticeable. In addition, mutual diffusion of group V atoms
occurs at an interface of the first semiconductor layer and the
second semiconductor layer by heat applied in a regrowth process
for forming a BH structure or in thermal treatment process at a
process of forming electrodes. Although this forms a quantum status
in which an electron transits at a wavelength shorter than
designed, when the layer thickness is thinner, effect by shift to
shorter wavelength by the quantum size effect becomes noticeable.
Also, in some cases, effect by the
electric-field-distribution-control layer may vary due to variation
of growing temperature per a batch at manufacturing.
[0083] From the above matter, the layer thickness equal to or
greater than 10 nm is preferable for restraining quantum size
effect. In addition, from the reason similar to the above matter,
it is preferable that thickness of each one of the second
semiconductor layer is 10 to 50 nm.
[0084] From a view point of restraining a dual-peak electric field
distribution shape, it is preferable to dispose first semiconductor
layers and second semiconductor layers each having a plurality of
thicknesses alternately.
[0085] In case where the first semiconductor layer is made from
InP, in order to make the total thickness of the second
semiconductor layer equal to or smaller than 1 .mu.m, it is
preferable to make a period of repeating the first semiconductor
layers and the second semiconductor layer 20 to 100 periods.
[0086] Also, in case where the first semiconductor layer is made
from GaInAsP, 10 to 50 periods are preferable in order to make the
total thickness of the second semiconductor layer equal to or
smaller than 1 .mu.m.
[0087] It should be noted that, although herein GaInAsP of which
lattice matching degree is -0.05% to 0.05% is used, a crystal
having less defect can be realized even when the total thickness of
the GaInAsP is made equal to or greater than 1 .mu.m by a strain
compensation structure in which the first semiconductor layer and
the second semiconductor layer have positive and negative lattice
constants relative to lattice constants of substrates,
respectively. In this case, the period is not limited. It should be
noted that the respective total thicknesses of the first
semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are layer
thicknesses equal to or smaller than critical thicknesses defined
based on lattice mismatching degree.
[0088] Also, preferable compositions for the first semiconductor
layer and the second semiconductor layer are GaInAsP having band
gaps which satisfy the following formulae.
[0089] That is, the first semiconductor layer satisfies
0.ltoreq.E1/E0<0.35 and the second semiconductor layer satisfies
0.13.ltoreq.E1/E0<0.71 where a difference between a band gap of
the n-InP cladding layer 2 and a band gap of a barrier layer
constituting the active layer 3 is EO (eV) and a difference between
a band gap of the n-InP cladding layer 2 and a band gap of a
GaInAsP layer constituting the electric-field-control layer is E1
(eV). By using GaInAsP satisfying these conditions for the
electric-field-control layer, it is possible to drive a
semiconductor laser module of which optical output at an end of a
fiber is equal to or greater than 300 mW with low power
consumption.
[0090] It should be noted that, although the semiconductor layer in
the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is configured so
that band gap energy is greater when leaving away from the
GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer 3, a configuration in which band gap
energy is greater when being closer to the active layer 3 is
applicable.
[0091] It should be noted that, although the semiconductor laser
element according to the embodiment 1 is a semiconductor laser
element formed on the InP substrate and uses the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 which is configured by
the InP layer and the GaInAsP, an
electric-field-distribution-control layer configured by an InP
layer and an AlGaInAsP layer may be used. Also, an
electric-field-distribution-control layer configured by a GaAs
layer and an AlGaInAsP layer can be used in a semiconductor laser
element formed on a GaAs substrate.
[0092] Next, a lower side SCH layer having 40.8 nm of layer
thickness is formed by layering non-doped-GaInAsP layers having
0.95 .mu.m, 1.0 .mu.m, 1.05 .mu.m, 1.1 .mu.m, and 1.15 .mu.m of
composing wavelengths. After that, a well layer made from GaInAsP
and a barrier layer made from GaInAsP are grown on the lower side
SCH layer alternately, and an active layer having a multi quantum
well structure in which the number of well layers is three is
formed. In the present embodiment 1, the layer thicknesses and
compositions of the well layer and the barrier layer are set so
that oscillation wavelength is 1415 nm. A compressive strained
quantum well structure of which lattice mismatching degree relative
to the InP substrate is approximately 1% is applied to the well
layer.
[0093] It should be noted that, since net strain amount of strained
quantum well active layer can be reduced by introducing a strain
compensation structure having a barrier layer into which tensile
strain is introduced, a compressive strained quantum well structure
of which lattice mismatching degree of a quantum well layer is
equal to or greater than 1% is applicable.
[0094] In addition, in case where Zn is used as p-type impurity,
since the diffusion coefficient of Zn is great, Zn diffuses in the
active layer by a thermal process in manufacturing process (for
example, growing temperature etc. at regrowth when forming a BH
structure), problems such as decrease in optical output of the
semiconductor laser element and increase in threshold current
occur, and in particular, in a pumping light source for use of a
fiber amplifier, the decrease in optical output is a problem. To
address this, the present embodiment 1 has a structure in which Zn
is suppressed to diffuse into the active layer by doping the active
layer with 0.3 to 1.times.10.sup.18/cm of n-type impurity.
[0095] Next, an upper side SCH layer having 40.8 nm of layer
thickness is formed on the active layer by layering
non-doped-GaInAsP having 0.95 .mu.m, 1.0 .mu.m, 1.05 .mu.m, 1.1
.mu.m, and 1.15 .mu.m of composing wavelengths. The above described
lower side SCH layer, the active layer of the multi quantum well
structure, and the upper side SCH layer constitute the GRIN-SCH-MQW
active layer 3.
[0096] After that, a lower layer portion of the p-InP cladding
layer, which is made of InP of which impurity density is 3 to
9.times.10.sup.17/cm.sup.3 and of which thickness is 0.5 .mu.m is
grown on the upper side SCH layer.
[0097] Herein FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a band diagram around the
GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer 3 of the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiment 1. A well layer 3a and a barrier layer
3b are layered alternately and sandwiched by a lower-side SCH layer
3c and an upper side SCH layer 3d. Layer thicknesses and
compositions of the lower-side SCH layer 3c and the upper side SCH
layer 3d which are GRIN-SCH and GaInAsP constituting the outermost
barrier layer 3b are set so that band gaps of respective layers are
disposed linearly as shown by dotted lines L1, L2, L3, and L4. This
is because efficiency of injecting carriers into the active layer
is increased by realizing a quasi-linear SCH structure. It should
be noted that there is no problem since, even if it is not
linearly, carriers can be injected efficiently into the active
layer as long as the dotted lines L1 and L2 form a band diagram
having an upwardly projecting shape and the dotted lines L3 and L4
form a band diagram having a downwardly projecting shape and the
two projecting shapes face each other. Also, if it is possible to
control compositions strictly, it is no problem to use a linear SCH
structure in which a III group element and a V group element which
are composition elements vary continuously.
[0098] It should be noted that, as an crystal-growing method other
than MOCVD method, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) method or chemical
beam epitaxy (CBE) method may be used.
[0099] After that, an SiNx layer is deposited on the entire surface
by the thickness of approximately 120 nm by plasma CVD method etc.
and formed into a stripe shape by a photolithography process to
form an etching mask, and a mesa shape is formed by being immersed
in wet etching solution and the etching mask being used as an
etching mask, so that a curved face is obtained and no particular
plane orientation is exposed. In this state, the mesa is formed so
that the electric-field-distribution-control layer remains with the
thickness of approximately 1 .mu.m in a region in which the p-InP
current block layer 8 and the n-InP current block layer 9 are
formed.
[0100] Although it is manufactured by using wet etching in the
present manufacturing method, there is no problem if a mesa is
formed by a process of dry etching and subsequent wet etching in
order to removing a damage layer formed by the dry etching. From a
view point of uniformity within a surface of the active layer
width, the latter process is desirable.
[0101] Subsequently, the p-InP current block layer 8 and the n-InP
current block layer 9 are layered by MOVPE method by making use of
the SiNx layer as a selective growth mask to bury two sides of the
mesa, and after that, the SiNx layer is removed.
[0102] After that, an upper layer portion of the p-InP cladding
layer made from InP of which impurity density is 5 to
7.times.10.sup.17/cm.sup.3 is grown on the entire surface by the
thickness of 3.5 .mu.m, and furthermore, the p-GaInAsP contact
layer 7 made from GaInAsP of which impurity density is
approximately 5.times.10.sup.18/cm.sup.3 is grown by the thickness
of 0.5 .mu.m.
[0103] The p-InP cladding layer 6 is configured to have 4.0 .mu.m
of thickness which is the sum of the lower layer portion of the
p-InP cladding layer of which thickness is 0.5 .mu.m and the upper
layer portion of the p-InP cladding layer of which thickness is 3.5
.mu.m.
[0104] Then, a p-side electrode 10 is formed on an upper surface of
the p-GaInAsP contact layer 7 and an n-side electrode 11 is formed
at a lower side of the n-InP substrate 1, and after that, it is cut
with a length of 2 mm and is given a reflection-side reflecting
coating 14 and a output-side reflecting coating 15 to form a laser
structure. By doing this way, the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiment 1 is finished.
[0105] FIGS. 4A and 4B are drawings showing stripe shapes in the
waveguide direction of light in the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiment 1 and a comparison element
respectively. The comparison element is a conventional Fabry-Perot
type semiconductor laser element which is not provided with the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12. Herein the comparison
element has a layered structure identical with the semiconductor
laser structure according to the embodiment 1 except that the
thickness of the n-InP cladding layer 2 is 1.3 .mu.m and the
comparison element does not include the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12.
[0106] As shown in FIG. 4A, regarding the present embodiment 1, the
semiconductor laser element, in which the width of the GRIN-SCH-MQW
active layer 3 has an approximately 4.3 .mu.m of active layer width
along the waveguide direction of light, was manufactured.
[0107] Also, as shown in FIG. 4B, in order to control a single
transverse mode, the comparison element was configured to have a
waveguide structure of light in which active layer width of the
GRIN-SCH-MQW active layer along the waveguide direction of light is
configured by linear regions (length of 30 .mu.m: a
light-output-side region, 750 .mu.m: a light-reflecting side
region) in which the active layer width is 2.7 .mu.m and a region
(length 620 .mu.m) which is provided with a linear active layer
width which is wider than width in the vicinity of the
light-output-end surface and is sandwiched by regions (length 300
.mu.m) varying in a taper manner. It should be noted that, the
active layer width of the comparison element is defined by a value
obtained by dividing the area of the active layer by the length of
the cavity. For example, the comparison element having 4.3 .mu.m of
active layer width is realized by adjusting the taper region and
the linear active layer width which is wider than width in the
vicinity of the light-output-end surface so that the area of the
active layer is 8.6 .mu.m.sup.2. It should be noted that, since the
single transverse mode can be maintained at 2.7 .mu.m of active
layer width, the structure of the comparison element was made a
linear stripe structure. By doing this way, it is a structure of
controlled single transverse mode control and preventing optical
output saturation due to heat when injecting high electric
current.
[0108] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing current-optical output
characteristics of the semiconductor laser element according to the
embodiment 1 and a comparison element.
[0109] It is found that, although the semiconductor laser element
according to the present embodiment 1 and the comparison element
have stripes having 4.3 .mu.m of width, in the characteristics of
FIG. 5, a kink which is a discontinuous point is not generated and
high power output operation equal to or greater than 800 mW is
achieved.
[0110] This is caused by an effect of reducing a refractive index
difference between a current-confining region and an active layer
region because approximately 1 .mu.m of thickness of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 remains in a region in
which the p-InP current block layer 8 and the n-InP current block
layer 9 are formed.
[0111] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, when driving current is 1800 mA,
the optical output of the semiconductor laser element according to
the embodiment 1 shows power output higher than the optical output
of the comparison element by approximately 70 mW. This is because
inter valence band absorption in the p-InP cladding layer 6 reduced
and external quantum efficiency increased along with reduction in
internal loss since the electric-field-distribution-control layer
12 is applied to the semiconductor laser element of the present
embodiment 1.
[0112] From the above description, although a complex waveguide
structure as shown in FIG. 4 was applied to the comparison element
in order to control the single transverse mode, the semiconductor
laser structure according to the present embodiment 1 obtains an
effect of enabling single transverse mode control with a simple
structure and realizing a semiconductor laser with efficiency
higher than that of the comparison element by applying the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12.
[0113] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing dependences of electric input
power on optical output of the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiment 1 and the comparison element. As
compared with the comparison element, the semiconductor laser
element according to the present embodiment 1 has an effect of
being able to drive over a wide range from a low power output side
to 800 mW of high power output with low power consumption.
[0114] It should be noted that it is needless to say that a high
power output pumping light source for use of a Raman amplifier at
1400 nm to 1550 nm can be realized with low power consumption by
optimizing thickness or composition of the quantum well active
layer in the semiconductor laser element according to the present
embodiment 1.
[0115] Also, although the present embodiment 1 is a linear
mesa-stripe structure in which the width of the active layer is
equal with respect to the direction of propagation of light, a
structure maintaining the single transverse mode in which stripe
width varies with respect to the direction of propagation of light,
such as, for example, a taper structure or an active MMI structure
may be used. Also, since the active layer width can be equal to or
greater than 3 .mu.m in the present embodiment 1, in case where it
is applied to the comparison element structure, the active layer
width of the linear region of the light-output end face can be
expanded, and the area of the active layer can be increased to a
greater extent.
As a result, element resistance can be reduced, and a low
power-consuming semiconductor laser element can be realized.
[0116] Although the present embodiment 1 is a semiconductor laser
element having a BH structure, the present invention can be applied
to a ridge-stripe type laser or an SAS type laser easily.
[0117] Also, although the present embodiment 1 is a semiconductor
laser element, the present invention can be applied to various
aspects of a wavelength-variable laser, for example, an MOPA
structure, a semiconductor optical amplifier, or an element, in
which optical functions are integrated, such as a
modulator-integrated laser or wavelength-variable laser in which a
plurality of functions are integrated on a same substrate. The
functions include to select a specific wavelength by returning
(feedbacking) a specific wavelength in the wavelength-variable
laser. Such wavelength-variable laser includes, for example, a
Distributed FeedBack (DFB) laser.
[0118] As semiconductor laser elements according to embodiments 2-1
and 2-2 of the present invention, a semiconductor laser element in
which the configuration of an electric-field-distribution-control
layer 12 is different from the embodiment 1 is manufactured, and
laser characteristics thereof were compared with the semiconductor
laser element according to the embodiment 1 and the comparison
element.
[0119] The embodiment 2-1 is a semiconductor laser element having
an electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 which is configured
by 8 periods of a GaInAsP layer of which composing wavelength is
0.95 .mu.m and thickness is 20 nm, an InP layer of which thickness
is 180 nm, a GaInAsP layer of which composing wavelength is 1.1
.mu.m and thickness is 20 nm, and an InP layer of which thickness
is 180 nm, and the total thickness of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is 1800 nm. Also, the
embodiment 2-2 is a semiconductor laser element having an
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 which is configured by
4 periods of a GaInAsP layer of which composing wavelength is 0.95
.mu.m and thickness is 20 nm, an InP layer of which thickness is
180 nm, a GaInAsP layer of which composing wavelength is 1.0 .mu.m
and thickness is 100 nm, and an InP layer of which thickness is 300
nm, and 4 periods of a GaInAsP layer of which composing wavelength
is 1.0 .mu.m and thickness is 40 nm and an InP layer of which
thickness is 360 nm, and the total thickness of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is 3400 nm.
[0120] In the embodiment 2-1, the total thickness of the GaInAsP
layer included in the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12
is 180 nm which is 10.0% of the total thickness (1800 nm) of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12. In the embodiment
2-2, the total thickness of the GaInAsP layer is 580 nm which is
17.1% of the total thickness (3400 nm) of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12.
[0121] Optical confinement coefficients of the active layers by
calculation are 0.9.degree. in the embodiment 1, 0.97% in the
embodiment 2, and 0.91% in the embodiment 2-2, and as compared with
1.1% in the comparison element, they are structures in which
confinement is slightly small.
[0122] Also, values of internal losses are 2.7/cm in the embodiment
1, 2.5/cm in the embodiment 2, and 2.4/cm in the embodiment 2-2
which are approximately the same and estimated to be values smaller
than 3.8/cm in the comparison element, and a possibility that
external differential quantum efficiency may be enhanced due to
reduction in inter valence band absorption can be expected.
[0123] When IL kink (discontinuous point of optical output) is
generated in a semiconductor laser element, a high-order lateral
mode is generated in a current injection region following the point
where the kink is generated.
This causes a problem that, when laser light is coupled to an
optical fiber via a lens, coupling efficiency deteriorates to a
great extent, and a high power output semiconductor laser module
cannot be realized.
[0124] In addition, although an optical fiber amplifier is used by
controlling driving current automatically so that optical output is
constant (APC-driven), there is a problem that APC control is not
possible when there is IL kink. From the above matter, it is
important that a kink is not generated within a range of driving
current of a pumping light source for use in an optical fiber
amplifier.
[0125] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a relationship between an active
layer width and a rate of occurrence of IL kink of the
semiconductor laser element according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2. Rate of occurrence of IL kink increases when the active
layer width is greater than 4.3 .mu.m in the semiconductor laser
element according to the embodiment 1 or when the active layer
width is greater than 3.3 .mu.m in the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiment 2-1. In contrast to this, it is found
that, in the semiconductor laser element according to the
embodiment 2-2, the rate of occurrence of the IL kink is restrained
even when the active layer width is 4.8 .mu.m.
[0126] Herein, in the embodiment 1, the thickness (remaining
thickness) of the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12
remaining in a lower layer of the p-InP current block layer 8
constituting the BH structure for confining current is 1 .mu.m
(0.95 .mu.m composition wavelength GaInAsP/InP=20 nm/180 nm, 1
.mu.m composition wavelength GaInAsP/InP=(60 nm/140 nm).times.4
periods) among which the thickness of the GaInAsP layer is 260
nm.
[0127] On the other hand, in the embodiment 2-2, the remaining
thickness of the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 in
the lower layer of the p-InP current block layer 8 is 1.2 .mu.m
(0.95 .mu.m composition wavelength GaInAsP/InP=20 nm/180 nm, 1
.mu.m composition wavelength GaInAsP/InP=(100 nm/300 nm).times.4
periods) among which the thickness of the GaInAsP layer is 420 nm.
Similarly, in the embodiment 2-1, the remaining thickness of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is 0.2 .mu.m (0.95
.mu.m composition wavelength GaInAsP/InP=20 nm/180 nm) among which
the thickness of the GaInAsP layer is 20 nm.
[0128] From the above matter, it is found that, if the remaining
thickness of the electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is
greater, the thickness occupied by the GaInAsP layer increases,
refractive index difference between the BH region and the active
layer region is reduced, and high power output operation can be
realized without generating a kink even if the active layer width
is wide. It should be noted that, if the remaining thickness is
equal to or greater than 0.2 .mu.m, generation of a kink can be
restrained even if the active layer width is wide, i.e., equal to
or greater than 3 .mu.m.
[0129] FIGS. 8 to 11 are drawings showing dependence of static
characteristics of the semiconductor laser element on the active
layer width. FIG. 8 is a drawing showing dependence of threshold
current on the active layer width of each of the semiconductor
laser elements according to the embodiments 1, 2-1, and 2-2 and the
comparison element.
[0130] As shown in FIG. 8, the threshold current of the
semiconductor laser element according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2 exhibits a great value as compared with that of the
comparison element. As compared with 4.3 .mu.m of the active layer
width, it is greater by approximately 5 mA.
This is because, by introducing the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12, an electric field is
distributed at n-InP substrate side and confinement of light
decreases in the active layer.
[0131] Comparison among semiconductor laser elements according to
the embodiments 1, 2-1, and 2-2 shows tendency that difference
among threshold current of the respective embodiments decreases
along with increase in the active layer width. In addition, in the
embodiment 1 or the embodiment 2-2, threshold current increases
when the active layer width is smaller than a certain active layer
width. This is considered because density of carriers injected into
the active layer increases along with decrease in the active layer
width, non-radiative recombination component in the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 increases, and
efficiency of injecting current into the active layer is reduced.
In particular, it is found that, along with increase in the total
thickness of the GaInAsP layer included in the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12, that is, increase in
the threshold current in a region in which active layer width is
small becomes greater in the structure of the embodiment 2-2 than
in the structure of the embodiment 1. The increase in threshold
current caused by this increase in the total thickness of the
GaInAsP layer can be avoided by reducing carrier density by setting
the active layer width at equal to or greater than 3.3 .mu.m, more
preferably, equal to or greater than 4.3 .mu.m.
[0132] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing dependence of optical output
(when driving at 1.8 A) on the active layer width of each of the
semiconductor laser element according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2 and the comparison element. In the semiconductor laser
elements according to the embodiment 1 and the embodiments 2-1 and
2-2, higher power output than optical output of the comparison
element by approximately 30 to 70 mW is achieved. This is also
effect caused by the above described reduction in the inter valence
band absorption. It should be noted that, in case of the comparison
element, output is approximately 660 mW to 680 mW at 2.7 .mu.m to
5.1 .mu.m of the active layer width.
[0133] It is found that, among the structures of the three
embodiments, optical output is the greatest within a range of 2.7
.mu.m to 4.2 .mu.m of the active layer width in the structure of
the embodiment 1 in which the electric-field-distribution-control
layer has an intermediate layer thickness, and there is an optimum
value in the layer thickness of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12.
[0134] That is, it is found that, since there is a trade-off
relationship regarding the above described single transverse mode
control and high power output operation, optimization of the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 is important to
realize an operation with low power consumption and high power
output in the semiconductor laser element having the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12.
[0135] It was found that, in order to realize 99.7% of yield rate
at which the semiconductor laser module of which fiber-end optical
output is 500 mW is operated with driving current which is equal to
or lower than 10 W, optical output which is equal to or greater
than 725 mW is necessary when driving at 1.8 A. The optimum range
of the total thickness of the electric-field-distribution-control
layer 12 obtained from this finding and the results of the
respective embodiments in which the active layer width of is 3.9
.mu.m in FIG. 9 is 1.8 .mu.m to 3.5 .mu.m.
[0136] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing dependence of driving voltage
(when driving at 1.8 A) on the active layer width of each of the
semiconductor laser elements according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2 and the comparison element. FIG. 11 is a drawing showing
dependence of differential resistance (when driving at 1.8 A) on
the active layer width of each of the semiconductor laser elements
according to the embodiments 1, 2-1, and 2-2 and the comparison
element. In either one of the FIGS. 10 and 11, comparison of
driving voltage and differential resistances between the
semiconductor laser elements according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2 and the comparison element shows similar value at a same
active layer width. It should be noted that, at 2.7 .mu.m to 5.1
.mu.m of the active layer width, similar values to those of the
semiconductor laser element according to the embodiments 1, 2-1,
and 2-2 are shown. From this, it is found that, the
electric-field-distribution-control layer 12 having a plurality of
hetero interfaces to the extent examined in the present embodiment
is characterized in that resistance is small and does not affect
electric characteristics.
[0137] A semiconductor laser module according to an embodiment 3 of
the present invention will be explained.
The semiconductor module according to the present embodiment 3 uses
the semiconductor laser element, according to the embodiment 1,
having 4.3 .mu.m of active layer width.
[0138] FIG. 12 is a side cross section showing the structure of a
semiconductor laser module according to the embodiment 3 of the
present invention. The semiconductor laser module according to the
present embodiment 3 is provided with a semiconductor laser element
52 which corresponds to the semiconductor laser element according
to the above described embodiment 1. It should be noted that this
semiconductor laser element 52 has a junction-down configuration in
which a p-side electrode is functioned to a laser mount 48. A
temperature-control module 50 as a temperature-control device is
disposed on an internal bottom surface of a package 51 which is a
casing of the semiconductor laser module according to the present
embodiment 3 and is formed by ceramic etc.
[0139] A base 47 is disposed on the temperature-control module 50,
and the laser mount 48 is disposed on the base 47. Current is given
to the temperature-control module 50 for cooling and heating
according to its polarity. It should be noted that it functions
mainly as a cooler for preventing oscillation wavelength shift due
to increase in temperature of the semiconductor laser element 52.
That is, the temperature-control module cools the semiconductor
laser element 52 and controls to lower temperature in case where
wavelength of the laser light is longer than a desirable
wavelength, and heats the semiconductor laser element 52 and
controls to higher temperature in case where wavelength of the
laser light is shorter than a desirable wavelength
[0140] Specifically, this controlled temperature is controlled
based on values detected by a thermistor 49 disposed on the laser
mount 48 and in the vicinity of the semiconductor laser element 52.
A control device not shown in the drawings usually controls the
temperature-control module 50 so that the temperature of the laser
mount 48 is maintained constant. In addition, the control device
not shown in the drawings controls the temperature-control module
50 so that temperature of the laser mount 48 decreases along with
increase in driving current of the semiconductor laser element 52.
By performing such temperature control, stability of output from
the semiconductor laser element 52 can be enhanced and it is
effective for enhancing product yield. It should be noted that it
is desirable that the laser mount 48 is formed by material, for
example diamond, having high thermal conductivity. This is because
generation of heat when applying high electric current is
restrained by forming the laser mount 48 with diamond.
[0141] The laser mount 48 on which the semiconductor laser element
52 and the thermistor 49 are disposed, a first lens 53 which is a
optical-coupling lens system, and a light-receiving element 46 for
monitoring light are disposed on the base 47. Laser light outputted
from the semiconductor laser element 52 is guided to an optical
fiber 45 via the first lens 53, an isolator 54, and a second lens
44 which is an optical-coupling lens system. The second lens 44 is
disposed on an optical axis of the laser light and on the package
51 and coupled optically with the optical fiber 45 connected
externally thereto. The optical fiber 45 guides the laser light
outside thereto. It should be noted that the light-receiving
element 46 for monitoring light is for monitoring and detecting
light leaking from a high reflection film side of the semiconductor
laser element 52 and measuring optical output of the semiconductor
laser element 52.
[0142] Herein in this semiconductor laser module, an optical
isolator 54, which transmits the laser light outputted from the
semiconductor laser element 52 at the second lens 44 side, is
disposed between the semiconductor laser element 52 and the optical
fiber so that reflect return light by other optical component does
not return to inside the cavity. It should be noted that, although
the isolator 54 of which extinction ratio is -20 dB is used herein,
it is preferable to use an isolator equal to or lower than -20 dB
in order to restrain reflection from components constituting the
module or the system. It should be noted that power consumption of
the semiconductor laser module according to the present embodiment
was 9 W when optical output at the fiber end was 500 mW. Since, in
a laser module using the comparison element of which active layer
width was 4.3 .mu.m, power consumption was 11.6 W when optical
output at the fiber end was 500 mW, approximately 23% of reduction
in power consumption can be realized.
[0143] In addition, in case where the semiconductor laser element
52 is constituted by the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a
structure is employed in which a fiber grating as an optical
feedback unit returning a part of laser light propagating in the
optical fiber 45 to the semiconductor laser element 52 is disposed
in the optical fiber 45, and a cavity is formed together with the
reflection side of an end surface of the semiconductor laser
element 52. In this case, the optical isolator 54 should not be
disposed in the semiconductor laser module but must be of an inline
type in which the optical isolator 54 is disposed at a stage
subsequent to the fiber grating.
[0144] As a modification example of the embodiment 3, a
semiconductor laser module which does not include an optical
isolator in the configuration of the embodiment 3 but has a fiber
grating disposed at a part of the optical fiber will be explained.
In the modification example according to the present embodiment, a
semiconductor laser module having a fiber grating (FBG) is
configured by using the semiconductor laser element according to
the embodiment 1. It should be noted that characteristics were
compared by manufacturing a semiconductor laser module which is
provided with a fiber grating by using the comparison element.
[0145] It should be noted that characteristics of the FBG used for
manufacturing the module are 1.8.degree. of reflectivity, 1.8 nm of
reflection band width (full width at half maximum), and 1425 nm of
central wavelength.
[0146] In the semiconductor laser module using the comparison
element, the comparison element described in FIG. 4 and having 4.3
.mu.m of active layer width was used.
In the semiconductor laser according to the embodiment 1, far-field
pattern was 11.8.degree. and 16.degree. in the horizontal direction
and the vertical direction respectively, and in the comparison
element, far-field pattern was 12.5.degree. and 19.6.degree. in the
horizontal direction and the vertical direction respectively.
[0147] Since more round beam can be realized than the comparison
element by the semiconductor laser element according to the
embodiment 1 of the present invention, higher efficiency of
coupling with an optical fiber is possible. By reduction of driving
current and driving voltage by this, an effect of reducing power
consumption of the module is obtained.
[0148] FIG. 13 is a view showing a relationship between optical
output at an end of a fiber and driving current of a semiconductor
laser module using the element according to the embodiment 1 or the
comparison element. Since, in the semiconductor laser module using
the element according to the embodiment 1, driving current when
optical output at the fiber end is 500 mW is reduced from that of
the semiconductor laser module using the comparison element, the
above described effect of reducing the power consumption can be
confirmed. It should be noted that coupling efficiency for the
semiconductor laser module using the element according to the
embodiment 1 was confirmed to be 82% and was a value greater than
72% of coupling efficiency for the semiconductor laser module using
the comparison element. This is an effect caused by far-field
pattern of the element according to the embodiment 1 being varied
closer to a more round beam.
[0149] FIG. 14 is a view showing a relationship between optical
output and power consumption at the end of the fiber of the
semiconductor laser module using the element according to the
embodiment 1 or the comparison element. In the semiconductor laser
module using the element according to the embodiment 1, power
consumption at 500 mW--optical output at the fiber end is reduced
from power consumption of the semiconductor laser module using the
comparison element by approximately 2.7 W. In addition, since
optical output at the fiber end was 580 mW in case where, in the
semiconductor laser module using the element according to the
embodiment 1, power consumption was set at power consumption that
is the same as when optical output was set at 500 mW at the fiber
end of the semiconductor laser module using the comparison element,
16% of improvement is achieved in optical output.
[0150] In addition, although power consumption was 16 W when the
maximum optical output of the semiconductor laser module using the
comparison element was 560 mW, in the semiconductor laser module
according to the present embodiment, fiber end optical output which
is equal to or greater than 600 mW is obtained at approximately 12
W of power consumption.
[0151] From the above matter, there is an effect that high power
optical output can be realized with low power consumption by using
the semiconductor laser element according to the embodiment 1 in
the semiconductor laser module. Also, it was found experimentally
that, when reflectivity at output side of the laser light is equal
to or lower than 0.5%, more preferably equal to or lower than 0.2%,
generation of a kink at high power output can be restrained, and a
pumping light source for fiber amplification in which dynamic range
is wide from a low output region to a high output region with high
power output and stabilized wavelength can be realized.
[0152] FIG. 15 is a view showing a relationship between module
power consumption and thermistor temperature of the semiconductor
laser module using the element according to the embodiment 1 or the
comparison element at a time of 500 mW--optical output at the fiber
end.
FIG. 15 shows power consumption when the semiconductor laser
element was operated at high temperature. Herein evaluation was
performed by varying thermistor temperature of the module in order
to vary temperature of the semiconductor laser element. As a
result, although, in case where thermistor temperature was
25.degree. C., power consumption of the semiconductor laser module
was approximately 8 W, the power consumption can be reduced to 6.2
W by driving the semiconductor laser element at 40.degree. C. In
addition, in the semiconductor laser module using the element
according to the embodiment 1, power consumption is reduced by
approximately 2.7 W relative to the semiconductor laser module
using the comparison element.
[0153] This is because load to the temperature-control module 50
which is an electronic cooler was reduced by increasing temperature
of the thermistor, and power consumption of the temperature-control
module 50 decreased.
[0154] Therefore, by using the semiconductor laser element
according to the present embodiment 1 for the semiconductor laser
module, the semiconductor laser element can be driven at
approximately 40.degree. C. of high temperature, and optical output
of 500 mW at the fiber end can be obtained by being driven at
approximately 6 to 8 W of low power consumption. As a result, there
is an effect that power consumption of the optical fiber amplifier
can be reduced by using this semiconductor laser module for the
optical fiber amplifier.
[0155] As explained above, the semiconductor laser module according
to the embodiment 3 uses the semiconductor laser element according
to the embodiment 1 for the semiconductor laser element 52. Since
the semiconductor laser element 52 has a feature of being operable
with low power consumption and high power output and being capable
of coupling with the optical fiber via the optical component with
high coupling efficiency, a semiconductor laser module with low
power consumption and high power output can be realized.
Furthermore, since the semiconductor laser element 52 has a feature
of high photoelectric conversion efficiency, the semiconductor
laser element 52 can be operated at high temperature, and thus load
to the temperature-control module 50 is reduced, a semiconductor
laser module with lower power consumption and high power output can
be realized.
[0156] It should be noted that, although the 2-lens system is
employed in the present embodiment, a semiconductor laser module of
a 1 lens system may be configured by components such as the
semiconductor laser element according to the embodiment of the
present invention, a focusing lens, an isolator, and an optical
fiber etc. Also, a semiconductor laser module can be configured by
the semiconductor laser element according to the embodiments of the
present invention and a lensed fiber. In particular, in a
semiconductor laser module having a fiber grating which is an
optical fiber having a grating provided to a part thereof, there is
an effect that laser oscillation wavelength is stabilized at a
wavelength selected by the fiber grating.
[0157] It should be noted that a butterfly package is used in the
present embodiment 3, a semiconductor laser module using a Can type
package may be configured.
[0158] It should be noted that, as described above, in the
modification example of the present embodiment 3, when the FBG of
which reflectivity is 1.8%, reflection band width (full width at
half maximum) is 1.8 nm, and central wavelength is 1425 nm was
used, the power consumption when optical output at the fiber end
was 500 mW was 8 W. In contrast to this, when using an FBG of which
reflectivity is 3.5% and other characteristics are the same as
those of the above description, the power consumption when optical
output at the fiber end was 500 mW was 8.5 W.
[0159] It should be noted that, a Raman amplifier has a problem
that, if spectral line width of a pumping light source is narrow,
sufficient Raman gain cannot be obtained because of influence of
stimulated Brillouin scattering which is non-linear effect in an
optical fiber.
[0160] As a countermeasure to this, it is effective to include a
great number of Fabry-Perot modes within reflection band width
equal to or greater than 1 nm of an FBG in spectrum of laser light.
For that purpose, it is effective to make a cavity of a
semiconductor laser element longer or extend the reflection band
width of the FBG.
[0161] For example, in the present modification example, the laser
element of which cavity length is 2 mm includes 12 longitudinal
modes of which interval is approximately 0.15 nm within reflection
band width. Furthermore, by setting the cavity length at 3 mm,
longitudinal mode interval becomes 0.1 nm, thus it is possible to
include 18 longitudinal modes, which is 1.5 times the above
described case, within the reflection band width of the FBG.
[0162] As other methods, a module configuration, in which 2 FBGs of
which wavelengths are substantially the same are disposed at an
interval of 80 cm to 100 cm for collapsing coherence of laser
light, is effective for restraining influence of stimulated
Brillouin scattering. In this state, the FBG closer to the laser
element is disposed so that distance from the laser chip is equal
to or greater than 80 cm.
[0163] It was confirmed that, in a semiconductor laser module using
the element of according to the embodiment 1 (4.3 .mu.m of active
layer width) manufactured with this configuration, there is not
influence of stimulated Brillouin scattering when optical output is
equal to or greater than 50 mW.
[0164] Furthermore, in the above described method, a problem occurs
in an aspect of cost because 2 FBGs are used. For the purpose of
reducing cost, in order to collapse coherence of laser light with
one FBG and restrain influence of stimulated Brillouin scattering,
it is effective to equalize reflectivity of the laser end surface
and reflectivity of the FBG substantially.
[0165] In a semiconductor laser module using the element (active
layer width is 4.3 .mu.m, reflectivity at laser output end surface
is 1%) of the embodiment 1 manufactured with this configuration, it
is confirmed that influence of stimulated Brillouin scattering is
restrained when optical output was equal to or greater than 100 mW
and FBG reflectivity is 1.8%.+-.0.36%, or when optical output was
equal to or greater than 50 mW and FBG reflectivity is
1.0%.+-.0.2%. It should be noted that, for compatibly achieving
higher power output and restraining influence of stimulated
Brillouin scattering, it is preferable that reflectivity at laser
output end surface is 1% and FBG reflectivity is 1.0%.+-.0.2%.
[0166] It should be noted that, since a pumping light source for
use of Raman amplifier is usually used by multiplexing wavelengths
of laser light from a plurality of pumping light sources, it is
preferable to set reflecting band of an FBG at equal to or lower
than 2 nm in consideration of loss of optical multiplexer when
multiplexing wavelengths.
[0167] An optical fiber amplifier according to an embodiment 4 of
the present invention will be explained. The embodiment 4 is
characterized in that the semiconductor laser module of the above
described embodiment 3 is applied to a Raman amplifier.
[0168] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an
optical fiber amplifier which is a Raman amplifier according to the
embodiment 4. This Raman amplifier is used for a WDM communication
system. In FIG. 16, the Raman amplifier according to the embodiment
4 is configured to use semiconductor laser modules 60a to 60d of
which configurations are the same as the semiconductor laser module
shown in the above described embodiment 3. It should be noted that,
as a semiconductor laser element to be used for the semiconductor
laser module, those shown in the embodiments 1, 2-1, and 2-2 can be
used.
[0169] Each of the semiconductor laser modules 60a and 60b outputs
laser light having a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes to
a polarization combining coupler 61a via a polarization
--maintaining optical fiber 71, and each of the semiconductor laser
modules 60c and 60d outputs laser light having a plurality of
oscillation longitudinal modes to a polarization combining coupler
61b via the polarization-maintaining optical fiber 71. Herein
wavelengths of the laser light at which the semiconductor laser
modules 60a and 60b oscillate are the same. In addition, although
wavelengths of the laser light at which the semiconductor laser
modules 60c and 60d oscillate are the same, but are different from
the wavelengths of the laser light at which the semiconductor laser
modules 60a and 60b oscillate. Since Raman amplification has
dependence on polarization, it is configured so that laser light of
which dependence on polarization is canceled by the polarization
combining couplers 61a and 61b is outputted.
[0170] Laser light outputted by each of the polarization combining
couplers 61a and 61b and having different wavelengths are
multiplexed by the WDM coupler 62. The multiplexed laser light is
outputted as pumping light for Raman amplification to an
amplification optical fiber 64 via the WDM coupler 65. Signal light
to be amplified is inputted to the amplification optical fiber 64,
into which the pumping light is inputted, and Raman amplification
is performed.
[0171] The signal light (amplification signal light) having
performed Raman amplification in the amplification fiber 64 is
inputted to a monitor-light-distributing coupler 67 via the WDM
coupler 65 and an optical isolator 66. The
monitor-light-distributing coupler 67 outputs a part of the
amplification signal light to a control circuit 68 and outputs the
rest of the amplification signal light to the
signal-light-outputting optical fiber as output laser light.
[0172] The control circuit 68 controls laser-outputting state, for
example, optical power of each of the semiconductor laser modules
60a to 60d based on the inputted part of the amplification signal
light and performs feedback control so that characteristics of a
gain band of Raman amplification becomes flat.
[0173] As described above, since the optical fiber amplifier
according to the present embodiment 4 configures a Raman amplifier
by using the semiconductor laser module 60a in which the
semiconductor laser element according to the embodiment 1, 2-1, or
2-2 is built in, power of laser light outputted from the
semiconductor laser module can be enhanced.
[0174] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a modification example 1
of the optical fiber amplifier according to the embodiment 4.
Although the polarization combining couplers 61a and 61b are used
in the Raman amplifier shown in FIG. 16, light may be outputted to
the WDM coupler 62 directly from the semiconductor laser modules
60a and 60c through the polarization-maintaining fiber 71
respectively. In this case, polarization planes of the laser light
outputted from the semiconductor laser modules 60a and 60c are
incident at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the optical axis of
the polarization-maintaining optical fiber 71.
[0175] In addition, the Raman amplifier shown in FIGS. and 17 is of
a backward pumping type, Raman amplification can be performed
stably even if it is of forward pumping type or bi-directional
pumping type.
[0176] For example, FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a
configuration of a modification example 2 of the optical fiber
amplifier according to the embodiment 4, which is a Raman amplifier
adopting forward pumping type. The Raman amplifier shown in FIG. 18
has a WDM coupler 65a, in place of the WDM coupler 65 in the Raman
amplifier shown in FIG. 16, in the vicinity of the optical isolator
63. A circuit having semiconductor laser modules 60aa to 60da,
polarization combining couplers 61aa and 61ba, and a WDM coupler
62a corresponding respectively to the semiconductor laser modules
60a to 60d, the polarization combining couplers 61a and 61b, and
the WDM coupler 62 is connected to this WDM coupler 65a, and
forward pumping is performed in which pumping light outputted from
the WDM coupler 62a is outputted in the direction same as that of
the signal light.
[0177] Similarly, FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a
configuration of a modification example 3 of the optical fiber
amplifier according to the embodiment 4 which is a Raman amplifier
adopting forward pumping type. The Raman amplifier shown in FIG. 19
has the WDM coupler 65a, in place of the WDM coupler in the Raman
amplifier shown in FIG. 17, in the vicinity of the optical isolator
63. A circuit having the semiconductor laser modules 60aa and 60c'
and the WDM coupler 62a corresponding respectively to the
semiconductor laser modules 60a and 60c and the WDM coupler 62 is
connected to this WDM coupler 65a, and forward pumping is performed
in which pumping light outputted from the WDM coupler 62a is
outputted in the direction same as that of the signal light.
[0178] Also, FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of
a modification example 4 of the optical fiber amplifier according
to the embodiment 4, which is a Raman amplifier adopting
bi-directional pumping type. The Raman amplifier shown in FIG. 20
is provided with the WDM coupler 65a, the semiconductor laser
modules 60aa to 60da, the polarization combining coupler 61aa and
61ba, and the WDM coupler 62a shown in FIG. 18 in addition to the
configuration of the Raman amplifier shown in FIG. 16, and is of
bi-directional pumping type in which backward pumping and forward
pumping are performed.
[0179] Similarly, FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a
configuration of a modification example 5 of the optical fiber
amplifier according to the embodiment 4 which is a Raman amplifier
adopting bi-directional pumping type.
The Raman amplifier shown in FIG. 21 is provided with the WDM
coupler 65a, the semiconductor laser modules 60aa and 60ca, and the
WDM coupler 62a shown in FIG. 19 in addition to the configuration
of the Raman amplifier shown in FIG. 17, and is of bi-directional
pumping type in which backward pumping and forward pumping are
performed.
[0180] The above described Raman amplifier shown in FIGS. 16 to 21
can be applied to a WDM communication system. FIG. 22 is a block
diagram showing a schematic configuration of a WDM communication
system to which the optical fiber amplifier is applied which is a
Raman amplifier according to the embodiment 4 or the modification
example thereof.
[0181] In FIG. 22, optical signals, of which wavelengths are
.lamda.1 to .lamda.n, transmitted from a plurality of transmitters
Tx1 to Txn are multiplexed by an optical multiplexer 80 and coupled
to an optical fiber 85. A plurality of Raman amplifiers 81, 83
corresponding to the Raman amplifier shown in FIGS. 16 to 21 are
disposed on a transmission path of the optical fiber 85 according
to transmission distance and amplifies the optical signal which is
attenuated. The optical signal transmitted on the optical fiber 85
is demultiplexed by an optical demultiplexer 84 into a plurality of
optical signals of which wavelengths are .lamda.1 to .lamda.n, and
are received by a plurality of receivers Rx1 to Rxn. It should be
noted that there is a case where an add/drop multiplexer (ADM)
which adds and extracts an arbitrary wavelength of optical signal
is inserted on the optical fiber 85.
[0182] It should be noted that, although the above described
embodiment 4 is a case where the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiments 1, 2-1, and 2-2 or the semiconductor
laser module according to the embodiment 3 is used for a pumping
light source for use in Raman amplification, the present invention
is not limited to this. It is obvious that, for example, an optical
fiber amplifier which is an EDFA can be realized by using as a
pumping light source for EDFA such as 980 nm or 1480 nm and by
using an optical fiber including erbium which is an amplification
medium as an amplification optical fiber.
[0183] The semiconductor laser element according to the embodiments
of the present invention can achieve highly improved efficiency by
reducing internal loss by reducing inter valence band absorption.
Reduction in electric resistance and reduction in thermal
resistance are possible by reducing layer thickness of the p-type
cladding layer by reducing internal loss. Also, as compared with a
semiconductor laser element not including an
electric-field-distribution-control layer, since the length of a
cavity for achieving the same efficiency can be longer, reduction
in electric resistance and reduction of thermal resistance are
possible. By these effects, driving current and driving voltage for
obtaining desirable optical output are reduced, low power
consumption is possible.
[0184] Also, since current can be injected to the active layer
efficiently by applying the semiconductor laser element according
to the embodiments of the present invention to a semiconductor
laser element of a current-confining structure, a semiconductor
laser which is operated with low threshold current can be realized.
Furthermore, since refractive index difference between a
current-confining region and an active layer region can be reduced
by interposing an electric-field-distribution-control layer in the
current-confining region, a semiconductor laser element which is
operable by a single transverse mode, even if the active layer
width is broadened, can be realized. Since electric resistance and
thermal resistance can be reduced by this, a high power outputting
and low power consuming semiconductor laser element can be realized
in which thermal saturation hardly occurs. Also, since a
semiconductor laser element outputting laser light which is
approximately round beam can be realized by a combination with a
buried hetero structure as the current-confining structure, a
semiconductor laser module which can be coupled with an optical
fiber with high efficiency via an optical component such as a lens
can be realized.
[0185] In addition, the semiconductor laser element according to
the embodiments of the present invention does not deteriorate
current-injecting efficiency to the active layer. Therefore, since
increase in voltage, increase in threshold, decrease in efficiency
due to increase in resistance when introducing the
electric-field-distribution-control layer can be restrained, a
highly efficient and low-power-consuming semiconductor laser
element can be realized.
[0186] In addition, since the semiconductor laser element according
to the embodiments of the present invention can realize a
low-power-consuming highly efficient GaInAsP-based semiconductor
laser element, higher performance and lower power consumption for a
large-capacity communication system can be realized.
[0187] In addition, since sum of the layer thicknesses of GaInAsP
layers constituting an electric-field-distribution-control layer is
thinner than 1 .mu.m according to the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiments of the present invention, a
manufacturing process can be realized in which there is fewer
crystal defect or surface defect. By doing this, a
low-power-consuming, high-power-outputting and highly reliable
GaInAsP-based semiconductor laser can be realized at low cost. In
addition, in a semiconductor laser element using an
electric-field-distribution-control layer constituted by InP and
GaInAsP, ratio including GaInAsP is smaller than a semiconductor
laser to which a GaInAsP cladding layer is applied. Therefore,
since thermal resistance can be reduced in a laser module assembled
with junction up, for example, a ridge-waveguide-type laser module
or a module using an integrated optical element, a
wavelength-variable laser which is superior in operation at high
temperature can be realized.
[0188] In addition, according to the semiconductor laser element
according to the embodiments of the present invention, since band
gap composition wavelength of the GaInAsP layer constituting the
electric-field-distribution-control layer is equal to or greater
than 1 .mu.m, a manufacturing process can be realized in which
composition control for Ga and As is easy. Therefore, a
low-power-consuming, high-power-outputting and highly reliable
GaInAsP-based semiconductor laser can be realized at low cost.
[0189] In addition, since the semiconductor laser module according
to the embodiments of the present invention uses the above
described semiconductor laser element, there is an effect that a
semiconductor laser module which is operable with low power
consumption and high power output can be provided.
[0190] In addition, according to the optical fiber amplifier
according to the embodiments of the present invention, there is an
effect that an optical fiber amplifier with stable amplification
gain and high gain can be provided by using the above described
semiconductor laser element or the semiconductor laser module.
[0191] Also, further effect and variation can be easily derived by
those skilled in the art. Therefore, broader aspects of the present
invention are not intended to be limited to the above described
embodiments, and various changes are possible.
[0192] As described above, the semiconductor device, the
semiconductor laser module, and the optical fiber amplifier
according to the present invention are preferable to be used mainly
for optical communication.
[0193] Although the invention has been described with respect to
specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the
appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed
as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that
may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the
basic teaching herein set forth.
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